VIRTUAL BOOK DISCUSSION
Thursday, September 23 | 9:00am to 10:00am
Vanessa Akhtar and Laurin Parthemos from strategy execution and change management firm Kotter will lead a virtual book discussion about why and how traditional approaches to M&A and restructuring need to change, drawing from Kotter’s just-released book, Change. This discussion will be moderated by Michelle Van Hellemont and will explore topics such as:
● Why the Covid-19 pandemic represents a spike, rather than an aberration, in an already volatile environment.
● How dealmakers can reduce risk and unlock exceptional value for portfolio companies during uncertain, volatile times.
● What the emerging science of change tells us about successful culture adaptation - and how this applies following restructurings, both operational and ownership, and how it can help maximize investment ROI.
The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session.
Dr. Vanessa Akhtar
Vanessa Akhtar has a background in Counseling Psychology, specializing in Sport & Performance Psychology. Before transitioning into the consulting world, she taught at Boston University and worked with teams, coaches and athletes – ranging from youth through to professional and Olympic-level – to help individuals reach the top of their game. She has worked with organizations around the globe, spanning a variety of industries – including healthcare, education, oil and energy, pharmaceuticals, non-profits, advertising and philanthropic foundations.
As a Director at Kotter, Vanessa works on the firm’s most complex engagements, walking alongside clients throughout their transformation journey – in addition to helping drive Kotter’s ongoing research & development efforts. She has written on the topics of leadership and is the co-author of the book Change: How Organizations Create Hard-to-Imagine Results Despite Uncertain and Volatile Times (Wiley) with Dr. John Kotter and Gaurav Gupta.
Laurin Parthemos
Prior to Kotter, Laurin worked across the Banking industry, from Commercial to Investment, Laurin has advised CEOs and Senior Leaders on operational excellence, the acquisition process, and improving financial performance. In addition to her work in the financial sector, she has consulted across various industries, including consumer products, healthcare IT, investment banking, and medical devices.
As a Principal at Kotter, she leverages her analytical background to bring a unique perspective regarding change and optimization to her clients – focusing not just on the end result, but the path to achieve lasting success.
Visionary Sponsor
Motivator Sponsor
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